Shoe-fastener



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SHOE-FASTENEB- Application tiled October 4, 1920.

T0 all fw tom it may concern Be it known that we, Tnnnv L. Trnrnicir and Pnimr il. Munn-Len, citizens of the United States, residing at Joplin, in the county of Jasper and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification. Y

This invention relates to shoe fasteners, and it comprises the combination with a shoe having an opening arranged in the front and a flap disposed in one side of the opening and adapted to overlap the other section of the shoe upper when in closed position, of a fastener comprising a plate adapted to be secured to the shoe upper near the opening, a complementary fastening member hinged thereto and secured to the free end of said fla-p, and a wire reinforcing frame securedto each end of said complementary member and forming a support for said flap.

Tn the present invention, we have provided a fastening device for shoes to be used in place of the ordinary buttons and laces which may be instantly fastened and un; fastened when the shoes are being pnt on and taken ofi".

The present invention is adapted to be used in connection with a shoe having the usual opening` and having a flap carried by one part of the shoe upper and adapted to overlap the other part when in closed position.

The fastening element comprises a pair of hinged complementary members provided with latching means whereby the members are locked together when in closed position. One of said members is secured to the shoe upper and the other member is hinged thereto and connected to the end of the flap. The device is provided with reinforcing means 'consisting of a piece of wire adapted to extend along the edge of the opening to form the hinge and along the edge for reinforcing purposes. This reinforcing` member may be advantageously made in sections whereby it may be applied to low shoes, to the regulation height mans shoe, or to the high boot worn by women.

Vhen the fastening device is employed and the shoe is closed, it is entirely covered by the flap and is invisible, presenting a neat and attractive appearance.

In the accompanying drawings, we have Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 1921.

Serial No. 414,623.

shown 'one embodiment of our invention.

showing the fastener applied and showing the flap closed.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the Hap yin open position.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the fastener, anc

Fig. 4l is a top plan view thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A designates generally a shoe having an upper 1. The upper is provided with the usual opening arranged in the front and a flap 2 is secured to the upper at one side of the opening. As shown7 the flap is arranged on the inside of the opening and is adapted to overlap the outside portion 3 of the upper when in closed position. fastener comprises a pair of complementary members L1 and 5. The member 4 is secured to the portion 3 of the upper in any suitable manner as by staples 6 formed integral therewith. It is provided with a lip or catch 7 adapted to cooperate with fastening means carried by the complementary member. Suitable reinforcing lmeans are secured to the edge of the portion B and the edge of the flap. As the flap is substantially V-shaped, the reinforcing means at the bottom consists of a substantially V-shaped wire member having arms 8 and 9. These arms may be provided with loops 10 whereby the reinforcing member may be sewed to the shoe.

Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawings, the reinforcing` member is made in sections whereby the fastener may be employed with shoes of different heights. When used with a low shoe, the lower V-shaped member is employed and one fastening device is used therewith. When the device is to be enr ployed in connection with mens high shoes, an upper section of the reinforcing device is employed. As shown, this section comprises arms 11 and 12 adapted to be arranged on the edge of the flap and the edge of the upper respectively, the two arms be ing connected at the top and bottom by cross members 13 and 14.. This member may also be provided with loops 15 whereby it is secured to the shoe. A substantially rectangular portion comprising arms 16 and 17 and connecting members 1S and 19 may be used wilhen the fastener is attached to ladies high s oes.

Our improved One of the arms of the reinforcing member is adapted to form a pivot for the pivoted member 5 of the fastening device. As

shown, vthe end of the stationary member 4t is forked as at 2O Vand the end of the pivoted member is provided with an enlargement 21. The forked end of the stationary member and the enlargement are provided with openings adapted to be arranged in alinement for the passage of the arm of the reinforcing member. The outer end of the reinforcing member is provided with an enlargement 22 having an opening therein for the reception of the outer'arm of the reinforcing member. As shown, the pivoted member is provided with an offset 23 adapted to coact with the lip 7 of the stationary member to fasten the shoe in position.

In the use of our invention, the framework or reinforcing member is securely stitched to the flap and the shoe fitted to the foot of the wearer. The other arm of the reinforcing member is then secured to the lap 3 of the shoe and the stationaryl fastening member t is stapled to the shoe. The device may be adjusted toward or away from the edge of the upper to iit the shoe to the kfoot of the wearer. As shown in the drawings, the inner arm of the reinforcing frame work forming the pivot for the latching member is arrangedto the edge of the lap. To make the upper of the shoe smaller, this pivot is adjusted outwardly away from the edge whereby more of the upper is overlapped and a smaller size is obtained whenk the fastener is closed. It will be apparent that this adjustment feature is very important and enables a shoe to be fitted to the foot of the wearer wherebyV a smooth and attractive upper is obtained. After the device has been secured in position, the shoe may be closed by arranging the flap 2 in the position shown in Fig. l and by placing the lip 7 and the offset 23 into position. To re move the shoe from the foot, the flap is opened to the position shown in Fig. 2 of `the drawings by grasping the edge of the flap and applying suiiicient pressure to release the fastening member.

It is to be understood that while we have described the preferred embodiment of our invention, various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resortedI to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

l. The combination with a shoe having a flap adapted to overlap the body portion when in closed position, of fastening means comprising a member. secured yto the body portion of the shoe, a pivoted member con` nected to said first member and connected y nected to said first member and connected te the edge-of'said flap, and a wire reinforcing member having one arm extending along the edge of said Hap, and a second arm secured to the body portion of the shoe, said second arm forming the pivot for said pivoted member.

In testimony whereof we afliX our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

TEDDY L. TETIRIGK. PHILIP J. MUELLER.

Witnesses:

C. W. GLovnR, GEO. D. CARTER. 

